Hilo Interpreters Club - WWII & Korean War MIS - Military Intelligence Service, Nisei Interpreters in the Pacific Theater

[Salvage Sailor]

Aloha Everyone,

 

Here's a Veterans Club patch from Hilo, Hawaii (Big Island) which is very difficult to find as they were only made for their membership - you had to have served as an (Japanese/Chinese/Korean-English etc.) Interpreter with the Military Intelligence Service in WWII and/or Korea.

 

 

 

[SARGE]

I have never seen or heard of this veteran group.  Really interesting.  How large is the organization?  

[Salvage Sailor]

It's more or less defunct at this point due to the march of time.  It was a sub-group to the MIS group, associated with the 442nd/100th organizations.

 

Membership would have been limited by the number of participating interpreter veterans

[KevinBeyer]

It is the way of things with Veterans' Organizations.  Unless they are extremely open to members from all services and conflicts like the VFW and American Legion, they just don't have the the staying power.  All good things must come to an end.

[Salvage Sailor]

Quite true.  My Salvage Association is now losing it's very last WWII vets and most of the Korean War and Atomic vets are gone too.  We were maintaining our membership until it began to decline in the last 10 years.  Mostly due to 'our ships' all being out of commission now, as the few remaining Salvage ships, Tugs, and Submarine Rescue ships are only found in the (mostly) civilian manned USNS.  It's just the march of time.

 

 

[Salvage Sailor]

Company Name:      HILO INTERPRETERS CLUB
Entity Type:      DOMESTIC NONPROFIT CORPORATION
File Number:      88595 D2
Filing State:      Hawaii (HI)
Filing Status:      Inv. Dissolved
Filing Date:      July 27, 1992
Company Age:      29 Years, 6 Months
Products/Services:      WORKING FOR THE INTERESTS AND BENEFITS OF THE US ARMED FORCES VETERANS
Governing Agency:      Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs

 

 

Kenneth Toyoharu Mihara, 93, of Hilo, died April 3, 2017 at Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home. Born in Kalaoa Mauka, Papaikou, he was a retired specialty buyer for Sure Save Supermarket, U.S. Army World War II Military Intelligence Service veteran, and member of Hilo Hooganji Mission and formerly a Kiwanis and Hilo Interpreters Club member.

 

Teruo “Toots” Taketa, 88, of Hilo died Aug. 15 2017 at his residence. Born in Hilo, he was a retired buyer for Hilo Planing Mill, member of the East Hawaii Kiwanis Club, Hilo Jaycees, Wreckers Golf Club, Hilo Interpreters Club and a veteran of the U.S. Army during the Korean War.

 

Sadamu Tsubota, 92, of Pahoa, died February 20, 2013 at Hospice of Hilo’s Pohai Malama facility.

Born in Pahoa, he was the proprietor of various businesses, including S.Tsubota Inc., the former “Puna Tavern” restaurant and bar, and “Drip n Dry” laundromat, he was also the former manager of Hilo Singer Sewing and Kapa’a Singer Sewing in Kauai, a WWII US Army (interpreter) veteran with the Military Intelligence Service (MIS), and member of Puna Lions Club (59 years), Puna Hongwanji Mission, Pahoa Nikkei Jin Kai, Kyu Pahoa Kumiai, Pahoa Senior YBA, East Hawaii Hiroshima Kenjin Kai, and Hilo Interpreters Club.

 

Masao Ochi, 97, of Hilo died June 20 2016 at the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home. Born in Pu’u O’o Ranch, South Hilo, he was the retired proprietor of the former Hilo Quality Cleaners, member of the Hilo Meishoin Mission, Hilo Interpreters Club and a veteran of the U.S. Army Military Intelligence Service during World War II.

 

 Ronald Masami Takahata, 95, of Hilo, died Aug. 2019, at Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home. Born in Pahala, he was businessman and proprietor of former Quality Auto Supply in Hilo, US Army World War II Military Intelligence Service veteran and member of Hilo Interpreters Club